When you think of hard water, the things that usually come to mind are how they affect cleaning and laundry. If you use hard water with soap, it will form sticky soap curd. Meanwhile, if you use hard water to bath, it will leave sticky substances in the skin. This happens because of the high mineral content which comes from limestone, chalk, or other things that has calcium and magnesium carbonates.
Dealing with hard water is a pain in the neck. It will not only make cleaning and washing laundry a great nuisance, but it might also cause damages in boilers, washing machines, cooling towers, and basically any machine that works with water.
Pipes are also not safe, as hard water will cause the inside to be clogged. As per health, according to Water Research, a little bit of magnesium and calcium content will be added to the daily diet by a little bit. However, this benefit is quite small compared to the nuisance that hard water can bring to equipment.
A water softener will answer your problem regarding hard water. However, you’d likely get another problem, financially this time. If you want to know how to treat hard water at home without breaking the bank, take a look at these cheap and DIY methods that you can easily do to soften your water.
The Boiling Method (For Small Amount Of Water)
Boiling water is a very beneficial and cheap way to purify your water. It actually helps in removing hard minerals which are usually calcium, bicarbonates, magnesium carbonates, or sulfates. You won’t have to spend money to buy a specialized machine. However, this method might need a lot of time and patience. Tip: if you’re going to soften a large amount of hard water, use a larger container to reduce the time for waiting.
Things that you’ll need:
- Container
- Pot or kettle
- Patience
Instructions
- Pour The Hard Water In A Pot And Let It Boil
The first and the most important part of this method is to let the hard water boil for a few minutes. In this step, the minerals remove the impurities present in your water. You’ll be able to see sediments from minerals that are insoluble in nature.
- Let The Water Cool Down In A Container
Make sure that the water is cool before using it on your intended use. Sift the insoluble minerals to make sure that you won’t be consuming insoluble materials. This is optional, but if you want to retain the taste, transfer the water to another container back in forth. By transferring, you reintroduce the water to oxygen in the air, which is the reason for a better taste. This method is called “air stripping” and can also be used to reduce chlorine in a small amount of water.
Read more: https://personal.ems.psu.edu/~elsworth/courses/geoee408/cm/remediation/2017_5_airstripping.pdf
The Vinegar or Baking Soda Method (For Laundry Use Only)
Are you looking for a method to soften the hard water for laundry use? Using vinegar or baking soda will help you get the desired effect for your laundry. In addition, these two materials can be found in your kitchen and only costs a fraction compared to a water softener. Another great reason to consider these two items is the fact that they help you clean your clothing more thoroughly.
Things that you’ll need:
- White vinegar ONLY
- Baking soda
Instructions:
- For Baking Soda
In this method, you need about ½ cup or 118 ml of baking soda. Before you fill your washing machine with the usual detergent, pour a half cup of baking soda. Proceed to put your clothing and detergent the same way you usually do, and that’s it. Even though you have hard water, the baking soda makes it easier to handle my making your laundry softer to the touch. This works because the baking soda helps in regulating the pH level of the rinse water.
Read more: https://www.thespruce.com/use-baking-soda-in-laundry-2145765
- For Vinegar
You might be doubting about using vinegar in the laundry. Would it make your clothes smell or would it destroy the color of your clothes? Vinegar is an acid, and a natural acid as well. It helps in softening hard water by neutralizing calcium. Pour a half cup of distilled white vinegar before the last rinse cycle.
Read more: https://m.wikihow.com/Soften-Hard-Water-Naturally
The “Point Of Use” Method
The point of use method means that you only use the softener agent when you’re going to use the water. There are a lot of options in this method, but the theme is the same: using a filter only before you consume or use water from your source. Fortunately, these filters are pretty much uncomplicated to set up and use.
Things that you’ll need:
- Pitcher Filters
- Faucet Filters
- Shower Filters
Instructions:
To soften the drinking water, use pitcher filters on all your water consumptions. Most filters not only help neutralize the minerals in the water, but it also helps in reducing other impurities in the water. For showering and general use, faucet and shower filters are recommended for installation. These filters only cost a fraction compared to a specialized machine, but it can last for two years.
Watch More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrRHL7-XIIM
Conclusion
Although hard water is not a health risk, it’s a risk for machines that we use. If you ignore hard water, you might encounter nuisances, especially in both cleaning and doing the laundry. This will also make minor inconveniences such as dying your hair or making your skin sticky after you shower. The methods listed above are the cheapest remedies to do when you’re having a hard time because of hard water.
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